Quebec makes history
Quebec wins first gold medal ever at Canadian Senior Triples Lawn Bowling Championships
A little history was made at the Canadian Senior Triples Lawn Bowling Championships on Wednesday.
Voula Vassiloun is and her team of Carolyn McGarr and Gail Routley won Quebec its first gold medal in the history of the tournament in front of a standing room only spectator gallery at the Peter borough Lawn Bowling Club.
Quebec had never reached the medal round in either the women’s or men’s divisions until this year when they reached the final of both. Vassiloun is edge d Man it ob a’ s Clarice Fitzpatrick 12-10 while in the men’ s final Nova Scotia’ s Steve Be zan son defeated Quebec’ s Andy Wepruk 17-11. Bezanson has won the title in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017.
Fitzpatrick’s final shot to knock Vassilounis off the jack on the final end missed by inches securing Quebec’s victory.
“Amazing,” Vassilounis said. “I had this peace in me today. I said either a gold or a silver it doesn’t matter; I just adore this game and the competition.
“Manitoba is a good team. We had a nice competition.”
The Montreal resident said the 13th end was the game’s key moment.
“I think I saved us because they only got one yet they were sitting four. I think that’ s what made it for us,” she said.
It was her first visit to Peterborough and one she won’t forget.
“We took a little tour yesterday down to the marina. I find the people just amazing. This club is extraordinary, just amazing. The people are kind and beautiful. They showered us with love.”
On the men’s side, it was Bezanson’s fourth trip to nationals and he’s won each time. It’s always emotional for Bezanson, a retired sports writer for the Halifax Herald.
“I know it’ s only lawn bowling but I get a little emotional because I start thinking about my dad( Frank Bezanson),” he said.
“He died in 1993 and he’s the one who got me involved. We were more like brothers than father and son. We had a real nice connection. When he died I carried on the legacy. It took me along time to come into my own but the last 10 years have been really rewarding.
“That’s the beauty of lawn bowling. If you keep in good shape, you can play into your 60s and 70s. There are not too many sports you can do that at a national level.”
Bezanson, 68, said he owed a lot to his teammates Dale Kidd and Doug McLearn.
“It’s really special for Dale because he hasn’t won a Canadian title before and he really contributed today. So did Doug. The front end did a great job.”
New Brunswick’ s Pat B eggs won the men’s bronze medal game defeating Ontario A’s Glen Patton 18-16. Nova Scotia’s Deborah Foster won the ladies bronze 17-9 over Ontario B’s Helen Wright.